How the automobile differential allows a vehicle to turn a corner while keeping the wheels from skidding.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Automobiles: Engineering; Physics; Motorcycles

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Confessor - - May 14, 2010
Subject: Wow!
I never knew any of this, so this movie was fantastic. I've always wondered what those bulbous nodules on truck axles were. What a great little flick. Ain't the Internet Archive a treasure???

Reviewer: Felks - - June 27, 2009
Subject: New Rod differential
New Rod differential:

http://www.new4stroke.com/differstop.gif

Andrew Feliks

Reviewer: Seto-Kaiba_Is_Stupid - - January 21, 2009
Subject: Jam Handy is GOD!!
Jam Handy produced the best car commercials in the world. This one, as usual, is excellent.

Reviewer: Classic_TV_and_Radio_Fan - - September 27, 2008
Subject: Thank You, Rick Prelinger
I love Jam Handy shorts, they are my favourite type of sponsored film. This one is entertaining and fun.

Reviewer: Robin_1990 - - April 22, 2008
Subject: Great Film
As the other reviews have noted, This is a really good film. Great footage of the time.
Jam Handy Rules!

Reviewer: atzi - - January 20, 2008
Subject: How a Differential works
As a professional auto technician (mechanic)this is the best video I have seen on how the rear end works on most rear wheel drive cars and the differential (spider gears) principles are same on front wheel drive cars. There have been few additions, positive traction etc.

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - September 16, 2003
Subject: Around the Corner
Jam Handy really did his job well herehe made a thoroughly understandable and even somewhat entertaining film about rear-axle differentials in cars. Unless you're really into auto mechanics, this should be as dull as dishwater, but it isn't. It's even somewhat understandable to non-mechanically-inclined persons such as myself. The amazing trick motorcycle riding scenes at the beginning and the bizarre couple that barrel rolls the rear wheels of a car help give it entertainment value. This film does what an industrial film ideally should dotake a potentially dull and dense industrial topic and make it interesting and understandable.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ****.

Reviewer: KIRKULEAZ - - April 13, 2003
Subject: AROUND THE CORNER
REALLY AN ENGAGING SHORT, THE NATURE OF MECHANICS BROKEN DOWN TO THE TINKER TOY SIMPLICITY.
BUT, FOR GOD'S SAKE-FORGIVE THE OPENING MOTO-ESTHER WILLIAMS LIKE SPECTACLE.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - December 30, 2002
Subject: Let's add another rod...
Unexpectedly entertaining film about turning axles opens with the most anazing motorcade you will ever see. An oviously well trained group of cyclists do incredible tricks, with three men on one cycle, breath-taking precision routines and STANDING on a motorcycle. My Gosh! These arent shriners!
Soon, the narrator comes in about the ability to turn on precision, and a fascinating history about the axle is shown, and then details about how the axle works in a car. While this may sound boring, it's told in a quite direct and entertaining way.
But it's interesting how Jem Handy obviously put something in front of a drab subject to make it more palatable. Even otherwise, this film is reccomended.

Shotlist

Dramatic and clear explanation of how a vehicle can turn a corner keeping the wheels from skidding because the differnential is at work.


Ken Smith sez: You've got to admire Jam Handy; not many producers could make a film about car differentials that's as easy-to-understand and as visually interesting as this. The film's opening -- which uses motorcycle stunt riders as an analogy for "cornering" -- is kind of oblique, but then the narration and scale models kick in and the JHO is in its glory. Well done.
Good stunt riding (Police on motorcycles in formation) .
AUTOMOBILES CHEVROLET POLICE MOTORCYCLES STUNTS DESERTS MACHINERY DIFFERENTIALS POLICEMEN ANIMATION MECHANICAL PROCESSES FORMATIONS HUMOR
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